Royals fall to Twins despite Guthrie's solid performance

MINNEAPOLIS — Samuel Deduno pitched seven sharp innings and one of Justin Morneau's two doubles drove in Minnesota's first run in a 3-1 victory over Kansas City on Thursday.

The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Samuel Deduno pitched seven sharp innings and one of Justin Morneau's two doubles drove in Minnesota's first run in a 3-1 victory over Kansas City on Thursday.

Deduno (4-2) gave up only five hits and, more importantly, one walk. He struck out three and let only eight fair balls leave the infield. Jared Burton pitched a scoreless eighth and Glen Perkins notched his 20th save in 22 tries with a scoreless ninth despite allowing a walk and a double.

The Twins even managed to beat Ashland native Jeremy Guthrie (7-6). The right-hander topped them twice earlier this season and brought a 6-2 record over nine previous career matchups into the game. Salvador Perez hit a long homer for the Royals.

Guthrie lasted 61/3 innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking two.

Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 4

At Boston, Jon Lester pitched into the eighth inning before leaving with an jammed hip, and Dustin Pedroia homered in a seven-run second to help the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a four-game series.

Toronto, which reeled off 11 straight wins this month, had won 12 of its past 14 games and 15 of 19 to close within 61/2; games of the AL East-leading Red Sox.

Then the Blue Jays ran into Lester (8-4), who was charged with four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks in winning for just the second time in his last eight starts.

The left-hander retired 10 straight to begin the game and didn't allow a hit until the fifth. He came out after giving up two singles to start the eighth and with a 3-0 count on Emilio Bonifacio.

Rangers 2, Yankees 0

At New York, Derek Holland tamed a team that often tagged him, pitching a two-hitter as Texas finished an impressive road trip with a win over New York.

Jurickson Profar homered and scored twice, while fellow rookie Engel Beltre got two hits in his first big league start. AL West-leading Texas went 5-1 on its trip to St. Louis and Yankee Stadium.

Holland (6-4) threw his sixth career shutout and the lowest-hit shutout by a visiting Rangers pitcher against the Yankees since the Texas franchise moved from Washington for the 1972 season.

The 26-year-old lefty struck out seven, walked two and didn't permit a runner after the third.

Orioles 7, Indians 3

At Baltimore, Chris Davis drove in the tiebreaking run on a fielder's choice grounder in a wild five-run fifth inning, and Baltimore rallied for a victory over Cleveland.

The Orioles used six hits and two errors to erase a 3-2 deficit in the fifth, salvaging a split in the four-game series. Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy also had RBIs during the rally.

Miguel Gonzalez (6-3) won for the fourth time in five decisions. He allowed three runs on nine hits over 62/3 innings, walking none and matching a career high with nine strikeouts.

Angels 3, Tigers 1, 10 innings

At Detroit, Albert Pujols hit a tiebreaking double in the 10th inning and Los Angeles beat Detroit for a three-game sweep and its ninth straight victory over the Tigers.

J.B. Shuck singled leading off the 10th against Phil Coke (0-5) and went to third on Trout's single to right field. Pujols sent a drive to deep center, where Austin Jackson failed to make a difficult catch with his back to home plate. Josh Hamilton made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly.

National League

Diamondbacks 3, Nationals 2

At Washington, Didi Gregorius drove in the go-ahead run with a bunt single in the 11th inning and Aaron Hill homered as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Washington Nationals to salvage the finale of a three-game series.

Miguel Montero led off the 11th with a ground-rule double off Craig Stammen (4-3). A.J. Pollock ran for Montero and Cody Ross bunted him to third. After Jason Kubel drew a walk, Gregorius bunted down and Pollock ran on contact, scoring the go-ahead run as Gregorius beat the throw at first.

Josh Collmenter (4-0) pitched the 10th inning and Heath Bell picked up his 14th save as the Diamondbacks snapped a three-game losing streak.

Ian Desmond homered for the Nationals.

Arizona's Patrick Corbin, who came in 9-0, and Stephen Strasburg matched up for seven innings with each allowing two runs.

Dodgers 6, Phillies 4

At Los Angeles, Yasiel Puig singled home the tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh inning, Andre Ethier had a two-run double and Los Angeles beat Philadelphia.

Greinke (4-3) struck out five over seven innings and allowed four runs on 12 hits, including solo homers by Domonic Brown and Chase Utley. Kenley Jansen got the last three outs for his seventh save in nine chances as Los Angeles won its sixth straight.

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom half of the seventh against rookie reliever Justin De Fratus (2-2) without the benefit of a hit, and Puig slapped a two-out, 0-2 pitch to left field to put the Dodgers ahead 5-4.

Mets 3, Rockies 2

At Denver, Marlon Byrd hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and threw out a runner from right field in the ninth to lead New York past Colorado in a makeup of a snowed-out game April 17.

With the Mets trailing 2-1 and a runner on, Byrd drove a fastball from reliever Matt Belisle (4-5) into the left-center seats. That was about the extent of the offense for New York with star slugger David Wright receiving a rare rest. Starter Jeremy Hefner drove in the team's other run.

Cubs 7, Brewers 2

At Milwaukee, Matt Garza struck out 10 in seven solid innings and Dioner Navarro hit a three-run homer, sending Chicago to a victory over Milwaukee.

Garza (3-1) had his third consecutive strong outing. The right-hander allowed one run on eight hits and a walk while throwing 101 pitches.

The Cubs broke the game open with four runs in the third, capped by Navarro's seventh homer.